The lowly Golden State Warriors have the Dallas Mavericks'
number, notching their fourth consecutive win over Dallas 117-100
Monday night, putting a screeching halt to their 17-game win
streak.
Dirk Nowitzki scored only 13 points on three-for-11 shooting,
made seven turnovers and got a technical foul while sitting on the
bench for the Mavericks (52-10). Dallas hadn't lost since Jan. 25
at Chicago.
Jason Terry scored 16 points, but Dallas never was competitive
in only its third loss in three months.
Mickael Pietrus scored 20 points for Golden State. Eight players
scored at least eight points for Golden State, including 16 apiece
from Stephen Jackson, Al Harrington, Andris Biedrins and Jason
Richardson.
The Mavericks beat the Lakers by 36 points Sunday night to
improve to 38-2 since Dec. 11 but played awful defense against the
Warriors while falling behind by 17 in the first half and 29 in the
third quarter.
Don Nelson, the Mavericks' longtime coach in his first season
back with Golden State, has won his first two matchups with former
protege Avery Johnson.
Golden State scored the first eight points, and it never got
much better for Dallas. Nowitzki went scoreless in the second
quarter, and Dallas gave up runs of 11-0 and 10-4 while falling
behind, 62-45, late in the first half.
Nowitzki became visibly frustrated in the third quarter,
flattening Baron Davis for an offensive foul, then knocking a loose
ball out of a cameraman's hands in his fury.
Johnson removed him from the game and Harrington made a free
throw to put Golden State ahead by 23.
Two possessions later, Nowitzki was whistled for a technical
foul for complaining from his seat on the bench.
(Xinhua News Agency via Agencies March 14, 2007)